Fan Article Initial thoughts on the new stadium Rob Williamson 10/08/2025 38comments | Jump to last Some initial thoughts on the new ground Thought I’d share some initial thoughts on my experience of the new stadium yesterday — the stadium, not the team, that’s been covered elsewhere. We walked to and from Lime Street to the ground, so can’t really comment on public transport arrangements; it would be interesting to know others' experience of that. Positives The sheer scale of the place, only becomes apparent once you get really close; The location on the river with views of the river and the Liver buildings; Everton Way – brilliant (although I was accused by one fan – lightheartedly – of standing on his dad!) Getting in was straightforward; The totally uninterrupted view from the seats we had; Nice touches – Archibald Leitch laticework reflected on the external fencing; original dock wall outlined. Not so positive Steep climb to our seats, Row 59 in the South Stand – surprising that there were no escalators or lifts – particularly in a new build. Horrendous queues for food before the match and at half-time at the Dockyard Kitchen in the South Stand. Stood for 15 minutes without moving and gave up in the end. Lot of congestion in that whole area. As this was only a friendly and therefore getting back to your seat before the start of the second half is less important than for a league game, I wonder whether fans would be quite as patient for a ‘proper’ game. (I recognise that this was a trial run for a full house but it does need to get sorted!) The red(!) Budweiser advertising on the two ad strips going round the whole ground. If ‘This Bud really is Blue’ then change the fucking colour! I hope the above doesn’t come across as a negative rant because overall I was really impressed – even overawed by my first visit – but I thought I’d share these anyway. Reader Comments (38) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer () Rob Halligan 1 Posted 10/08/2025 at 14:28:06 Rob, I'd love to know how you put a lift or an escalator up to the very top of the South Stand? Brian Wilkinson 2 Posted 10/08/2025 at 14:28:27 I tried to submit an article saying third test event but could not find a way to submit it, so will add it on here.Third test event and media picking at negatives and to some degree some supporters.So let's have a closer look at it.First and foremost, it was a test event to iron out any issues, so let's have a look at the bigger picture.For some, it was their first visit to the new stadium and will take some getting used to in regards to getting there, transport, getting inside the stadium, and into your seat.First things first: we all know the transport link from the train station and also buses are not the greatest; however, the buses from town centre and Pier Head were actually half decent. I managed to get the shuttle bus from the Duke of Wellington statue, to close to the stadium and also back into town afterwards.People left in staggered stages so it cannot put a true reflection on this, for me they need to put on a couple of additional buses from the stop close to Lime Street Station I think there were 4 shuttle buses but an additional 2 should at least get the fans to and from the stadium a little quicker.Getting inside the ground, for me there were large queues, we have to bear in mind most fans were used to physical cards and matchday tickets, instead of digital. I think once fans are more familiur with the new process, this will speed up getting inside the ground quicker.Getting to the upper tier in the East Stand, again those flights of stairs were brutal and that is before anyone has a seat toward the top of the top tier.Again, most had no idea there were lifts to get you up to the concourse for the upper tier, myself included, until I noticed them as I got to the upper concourse. The lifts will not be for everybody, but the likes of the older generation like myself will benifit from the lift. Not a lot they can do about the steps you go up to for your seat if you are near the top, but the lift to the first floor will certainly help.I can manage without a pint in the ground or food so will leave that part for others to comment on how it was.Overall we are not used to change but once we get used to it, it becomes second nature, for years we have found our own way to Goodison, it became second nature, for some yesterday it was into the new and change.The issue with parking and especially for disabled, there needs to be something arranged for that.We need to accept change and in time get use to our new surroundings. But that was the point of having a third test event, not everything will be perfect, but lessons hopefully learned from the event.My downside was as soon as you walk through the dock walls, everything is digital, from buying a programe, to even buying an ice cream or bottle of pop from the ice cream cart, cash is no longer king, once you cross that wall. 😬 Benjamin Dyke 3 Posted 10/08/2025 at 14:33:15 Thanks for sharing! I'm sure that a lot of lessons will be learned from this match re: the catering and how all the concourses functioned. The real test is the first home Premier League game. The demands have increased a lot both on the normal concourses and with all the new hospitality – let's hope that it improves throughout the season. When you mention your climb to the seats in the South Stand, do you mean that everyone enters at the bottom of the bowl and walks up an aisle to their row, which in your case was 59 rows? Rob Halligan 4 Posted 10/08/2025 at 14:42:11 Benjamin….for all those in the upper South Stand, there are escalators as soon as you pass through the turnstiles which take you to Level 2, straight onto the concourse. From there, you then pass trough a vomitory where you then have to climb the steps upto your row. It is impossible to install lifts or escalators beyond level two. Rob Williamson 5 Posted 10/08/2025 at 14:49:28 Rob #1. I'm not suggesting that there should be lifts/escalators to the very top – there would obviously be some design/aesthetic implications with that. But I was surprised not to see any going at least part way… but I didn't explore. ps: The other really positive that I forgot to mention was that I met Martin, an old school friend who I last saw 52 years ago!! Danny O'Neill 6 Posted 10/08/2025 at 14:52:17 I said enough on other thread. And each opinion will be be different. That was my 2nd visit and there had been quite a few improvements, mainly cosmetic.Overall I was impressed.I did forget to mention one plus. Well, a minor negative turned into a minor plus and not stadium related. My train arrived into Euston 20 minutes late. I'm entitled to compensation. Only £20, but small victories. Liam Mogan 7 Posted 10/08/2025 at 14:56:18 I think I've bought a couple of pies and maybe 5 pints over the past 5 seasons at Goodison. And the odd Bovril in the winter.The quality of the food and drink is the last of my worries. More concerned about the atmosphere. Will we ever get the bear pit back?Even more concerned about the lack of goals in the team (and I don't just mean the strikers). Ian Bennett 9 Posted 10/08/2025 at 15:07:26 Look I love the new stadium. The stadium design is impressive. The view from your seat is excellent. The vast fan zone is excellent.There are things that we would all question. The Club View isn't a premium upgrade on the rest of the stadium.No escalator to the top tier, and then a steep walk up to row 59 after a mile walk is going to keep you fit. The concourse is basic. No seating, nothing on the walls, no additional sales station for merchandise, book makers etc etc. There are some lifts which we found on the way out.The two beer stations were both closed. The main food and drink station doesn't have enough beer taps, and so the staff are all standing around. The temperature was fairly unbearable until the air con eventually kicked in. Tee-shirts were wet through in 40-minute queues, and fans around me weren't happy.Lack of parking, lack of rail infrastructure. A great big club shop, but practically impossible to park next to.The Dan Meis design is brilliant. The finish by the club less so. Things are going to need to improve, and future spend will probably come. Rob Halligan 10 Posted 10/08/2025 at 15:37:24 Rob # 5… It would be impossible to do it as you would need to cut through the raker beams and also the terracing units before you… nah, it's just impossible to do. Rob Williamson 11 Posted 10/08/2025 at 16:06:41 Benjamin#3.. The climb I mentioned isn't from the very bottom of the bowl but from the level 2 concourse. From what people are saying, there appear to be some lifts to get to that level…… and the climb starts there. Another negative just strikes me: Why no oxygen supplied halfway up!? Tony Hughes 12 Posted 10/08/2025 at 16:09:45 Well at least we'll have the fittest fans in the league! Anthony Murphy 13 Posted 10/08/2025 at 16:16:26 I've got a couple of questions re some of the external features - can anyone help?Anyone know if the West Stand plaza/steps will be open to fans in the future? I was looking forward to seeing that yesterday but it wasn't accessible. I asked a member of staff who said it was closed so the players could get in but this was at about 2:15 pm. I went back after the game and still closed off.I had a look in the Hydraulic Tower windows – it looks like it's being used as a temporary storage facility. Any news on what's happening with this?Thanks all David West 14 Posted 10/08/2025 at 17:13:46 Teething problems are expected. It's down to the club to learn the lessons and put them right. I can't wait for a night game, under the lights with points on the line it will be big!! Peter Mills 15 Posted 10/08/2025 at 20:30:20 There are quite a number of things to be ironed out, but I would love to see the Budweiser adverts turned blue - it would be appropriate, and very smart marketing. Danny O'Neill 16 Posted 10/08/2025 at 20:55:50 Peter, maybe also the Red Bull ones that appeared, although not as prominent, Blue Bull.If we've managed to get Heinz on board with turning their ketchup blue, it. wouldn't be out of the question. Kev Wood 17 Posted 10/08/2025 at 20:58:22 So many positives about the new stadium. It will take some settling into and it may take a while for the South Stand to get into song but I'm sure that will come.I was most unimpressed by the service in the Docklands Kitchen concourse in the East Stand. Starting to queue for a halftime beer just after the whistle, I finally got to the front at the point where they stopped serving alcohol as they said the teams were coming out for the second half.The lad who was serving just wandered off without any explanation and I had to ask a supervisor what was going on. Not sure if it is a stadium rule or whether they made it up because they were having problems with the beer engines. I finally had a pint after a long wait after the final whistle and wondered why I had bothered. The staff generally seemed like a load of untrained casuals without much of a clue about service or the importance of customers. I expect the American owners will get this sorted as, in many US venues, they are good at that sort of thing. Andy Riley 18 Posted 10/08/2025 at 21:42:33 Coming from Widnes, I was worried about getting there. At the last minute, I changed my plans and drove to Bootle Strand and parked there in the shopping centre (£7.50) and then got the shuttle bus outside which was seamless and efficient both there and return. My seat is in Club View and the seat itself was great but the queue for drinks was horrendous and staff seemed unable to cope with the technology once you got to the front! I was expecting the exclusive concourse in Club View but maybe that won't happen till the Brighton game. Overall, pretty positive really. Prices for food seemed expensive possibly but I'm not going to quibble over that — and I think the tea and coffee was probably similar to Goodison. Colin Glassar 19 Posted 11/08/2025 at 08:30:07 Lots of constructive comments both positive and negative. The moaning about the ale is a bit tiresome. Have a drink before, and after, the game in a local pub (there are tons of them in Liverpool) and help spread the wealth until they have to drop the prices in the stadium. Same goes for scran. Chris Leyland 20 Posted 11/08/2025 at 08:36:28 Thats all well and good Colin but when you have to queue to get through the turnstile for an hour and still miss the first 15 mins of the match, you have no choice but to get there 2 hrs early next match and therefore have to drink and eat in the ground! Colin Glassar 21 Posted 11/08/2025 at 08:43:17 That is not good, Chris. I remember all the moaning about the emirates, etihad, spurs ground, WHU place. Saint Marys etc…. They all seem to have solved their initial problems. Lets hope BMD does the same Danny O'Neill 22 Posted 11/08/2025 at 08:47:03 Sorry to hear about the Club View experience Andy @18.Given your location, Liverpool South Parkway would have been a better option. 350 free parking spaces and ignoring Merseyrail, you can pick up a national service on platform 4 that gets you into Lime Street in less than 10 minutes. Then there or buses from Communication Row across from the Empire or taxis that can get you to the Tai Pan, which is a short walk to the stadium. Anthony Dove 23 Posted 11/08/2025 at 08:54:21 Some of the smaller stuff will hopefully get sorted as time goes on but there are bigger issues for me. I know there is an escalator for those in the Trinity restaurant but nothing for the rest of the East Stand. I am in the bottom row of the top tier and was horrified to find myself so far from the pitch compared to Goodison.You get used to anything in time but it is a vastly inferior watching experience compared to Goodison. Ian Jones 24 Posted 11/08/2025 at 08:54:29 For those that went on Saturday, what was the actual viewing experience like. One of the best parts of Goodison was that the pitch was close to the supporters...is it a similar experience? Kev Wood 25 Posted 11/08/2025 at 08:57:44 Good points Colin and I would choose a good local pub over drinking in a 'fast food' style venue any day. When we left Goodison I said goodbye to prematch at Lucky's Blue Dragon and Crofts thinking that I would bite the bullet once a fortnight or so and pay higher prices, some of which would be going towards EFC and our squad. In any event, I have taken up the Club View offer which means that I have chosen the £10 per match catering allowance as part of the price for a great seat, which will inevitably mean I will need to queue. Notwithstanding that, I do expect good service from trained staff (or self-service machines that are quick, efficient and charge the advertised price- see elsewhere). As to the range of drinks on offer, I think I saw that the whole stadium would be offering over 70 different brands of beer and I hope that EFC don't get drawn into a 'pouring rights' arrangement with the Budweiser people which may immediately limit that. Jack Convery 26 Posted 11/08/2025 at 08:59:40 For the season ticket holders - did you sit in your actual seat for the season ? Are you happy with your new neighbours ?Hopefully, the snags will be sorted out before Brighton arrive. No good a new stadium, if it's not meeting all the fans needs. Dave Abrahams 27 Posted 11/08/2025 at 09:05:39 Ian (24) I went to the second test game and can honestly say that though was nothing to spoil the view of the pitch my seat in The Upper Bullens at Goodison was much better, I sat at the very back row at Bramley Moor and the players looked smaller, not sure about the atmosphere, I had 77 years getting used to that at Goodison but being honest I fell in love with it from my very first game there in 1948.At my age I havent got time to fall in love with this ground but the very best of luck to those who do. Richard Duff 28 Posted 11/08/2025 at 09:15:01 Ian @ 24. The stadium, playing surface, sound system etc… is brilliant.Not much song on Saturday as nobody knew what to do and when, plus the game didnt get the crowd excited but on the odd occasion something happened you could hear the acoustics kick in. 12,000 more Evertonians are going to be loud and as someone else said, when points are at stake its going to be awesome.3 offbeat points from me. 1. At one point the mist rolled in from the river and it all got very dark and moody, that could work for us. 2. The digital advertising boards on the middle tier are linked to the pitch side and to screens so a bit like in NFL stadiums, so it all adds to the atmosphere, like when the air raid siren sounds. 3. Out stadium announcer ( same guy from Goodison) was hopeless with the Italian names. That will be unacceptable when we are back in Europe and deffo suggests weve been stuck in England for too long!! Richard Duff 29 Posted 11/08/2025 at 09:15:01 Ian @ 24. The stadium, playing surface, sound system etc… is brilliant.Not much song on Saturday as nobody knew what to do and when, plus the game didnt get the crowd excited but on the odd occasion something happened you could hear the acoustics kick in. 12,000 more Evertonians are going to be loud and as someone else said, when points are at stake its going to be awesome.3 offbeat points from me. 1. At one point the mist rolled in from the river and it all got very dark and moody, that could work for us. 2. The digital advertising boards on the middle tier are linked to the pitch side and to screens so a bit like in NFL stadiums, so it all adds to the atmosphere, like when the air raid siren sounds. 3. Out stadium announcer ( same guy from Goodison) was hopeless with the Italian names. That will be unacceptable when we are back in Europe and deffo suggests weve been stuck in England for too long!! Ian Jones 30 Posted 11/08/2025 at 09:24:06 Dave, thanks for that, interesting perspective. Think my Dad would have gone to his first games around 1948. You've both seen changes over the years.The closeness to the pitch is important. A friend of mine has been to Wembley and has a season ticket at West Ham's place and sat way back from the pitch and suggested it's like watching Subbuteo. He re watches the full 90 minutes on TV a couple of days later to see what he missed. Dave Abrahams 31 Posted 11/08/2025 at 09:29:50 Ian (30), To me there is definitely a huge difference and I liked your last sentence @(30); If its allowed it would be much better if they showed the game on the huge screens each end of the ground while the game is played! James Hughes 32 Posted 11/08/2025 at 10:10:12 it is still a learning experience for all involved. As a lifelong caterer who has opened a good few restaurants, we would have 'dry runs'. People get invited and get free food and only pay for drinks. it helps iron out any issues. Of course it is hard to do that with 50,000 people. Add in the issues of recruiting and training part time staff, whom may only work 1 day every two weeks. well it may take a couple of weeks to get sorted. It was hard work getting a drink at half time at the Old Lady and Sod'em' exo had been there years. So a bit of patience is required Ian Bennett 33 Posted 11/08/2025 at 11:56:52 Sounds like a lot to happen over the next 2 weeks, and expect further changes under the Friedkins following a morning coffee.A shame the Friedkins didnt get in 12 months earlier, but it sounds like they have made changes that have delayed some things, and plan others in the future. As ever, we will need to be patient. Geoff Cadman 34 Posted 11/08/2025 at 13:00:26 I am in club view and like many I was surprised that there where only stairs after entering the Stadium. Fortunately one of the stewards took a couple of us out and to the accessible gate where there are elevators to all three levels. I tried to ring the club this morning to have my entry gate changed, but gave up listening to Everton songs for an hour. Craig Walker 35 Posted 11/08/2025 at 13:50:40 I couldn't get to the game but my elder brother was there.One question I have, will there be access to the Everton Way during normal working days or will you need a matchday ticket to get to the plaza? I presumed you would be able to get to it because the megastore would be open for business or will they restrict where you can go? Les Callan 36 Posted 11/08/2025 at 14:43:31 Craig. Went to the store last Friday. Everton way was fenced off. I asked a steward why, and he said because work was still being done down there. Presumably when said work is complete, a visit to the shop could include a visit to Everton way ? John Raftery 37 Posted 11/08/2025 at 16:10:39 The view from my seat in the lower North Stand was excellent. The concourse was comfortable before the game but rammed at half-time. I don't like fizzy lager and cold, tasteless pasteurised beers, so the bar queues don't bother me. Pity they don't have cask beer but I suspect the people running the club wouldn't know what that is if they were swimming in it. The sound system was thankfully more comfortable than we had suffered in the middle of the Park End. I know some fans who used to sit in the Street End and the Bullens Road who found it too loud. I have become used to the pre-match build-up in most stadiums being drowned in a wall of noise from the loudspeakers. Back in the '60s and '70s we created a fantastic pre-match atmosphere of our own with a full repertoire of songs and chants, partly inspired by the music charts of the day. Now those wishing to chant are unable to make themselves heard above the stage-managed din from loudspeakers. Eric Myles 38 Posted 11/08/2025 at 16:22:46 Kev #25, "The whole stadium would be offering over 70 different brands of beer"A great place for a pub crawl then! Kev Wood 39 Posted 11/08/2025 at 16:52:49 Eric #38. Yes indeed, although I'm sure most will be in bottles or cans and there may not be any single outlet in the stadium where most are available. None will be cheap and EFC loyalty aside, in line with Colin # 19, I've no doubt it would be a better experience to visit real pubs. Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. How to get rid of these ads and support TW © ToffeeWeb